After a statement win against No. 15-ranked Purdue, Indiana volleyball swept Michigan on Saturday night at Wilkinson Hall to improve to a 15-6 overall record and 5-3 in the Big Ten. This is the first time Indiana has started 5-3 in conference play since 1993.
This was the first time the Hoosiers swept the Wolverines since Oct. 22, 2010. The Hoosiers now have a two-game winning streak against the Wolverines.
Sophomore outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles had a career-high 18 kills against the Wolverines.
“She is a really good player,” Indiana volleyball head coach Steve Aird said. “Offensively, she can do special stuff. She was very much a pro and didn’t make any unforced errors.”
The Hoosiers started off the first set in dominant fashion, winning 25-10. The Hoosiers hit .478 with 12 kills and three service aces while holding the Wolverines to a hitting percentage as low as -.333 and two service errors.
Alonso-Corcelles led the team in kills, notching five of the 12 during the set. Junior outside hitter Kenzie Daffinee had two of the team’s three service aces in the set.
Indiana started slowly during the second set, allowing Michigan to take an early 4-1 lead. Michigan junior middle blocker Jacque Boney led the team with a .357 hitting percentage with seven kills throughout the set to keep Michigan alive in the second set. Freshman setter Morgan Burke had 10 assists, creating opportunities for Michigan’s offense.
Though Michigan had small leads through the second set, Indiana was able to level it at 16 a piece and gain momentum from that point on. Alonso-Corcelles got six more kills to have 11 within the first two sets to win the second set 25-20.
“We talked about figuring out who we are again and letting those errors go,” Indiana junior setter Camryn Haworth said. “It was about finding that new mindset.”
The Hoosiers figured out that mindset in the third set by defeating the Wolverines 25-12. Alonso-Corcelles had seven more kills in the final set to get to her career high.
Freshman libero Ramsey Gary had 21 digs on the night to keep the Hoosiers offense controlling the ball throughout the match. Indiana ended the match with Michigan’s second service error of the set and sixth on the night.
“Our motto is play hard and play fast,” Haworth said. “That’s just how we play.”
Indiana outhit Michigan .330 to .050 and had 41 kills compared to Michigan’s 26. Aside from her career-high kills, Alonso-Corcelles hit .390, six digs, and only allowed two errors. Haworth had 28 assists with a block and a kill.
“Michigan is a lot better than what their record shows,” Aird said. “They got good pieces and a great staff. The longer we can play and the more we can settle down and get into it, the better we are going to be.”
Indiana is on a three-game winning streak and will head on a road trip for a match against No. 15 Purdue. It is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start on Wednesday at Holloway Gymnasium.
